Chrysanthemum plant named Riot

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named Riot having flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; red bronze ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 60 to 75 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown single stem; 10 to 12 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; and 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowering buds.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Riot.

Riot is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new chrysanthemum cultivars having low temperature tolerancefor cut spray mum programs with decorative capitulum type, bronze rayfloret color, nine week flowering response, and the ability to producecommercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Such traits incombination were not present or needed improvement in previouslyavailable commercial cultivars.

Riot was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding programin Salinas, Calif. in 1978. The female parent was identified as 7710010,an unnamed bronze decorative seedling originated from a hybridization oftwo unnamed seedlings. The male parent of Riot was identified as 772143,an unnamed salmon decorative seedling originated from a cross between(Carillon × Belair) and Delight, all unpatented commercial spray cutmums originated by the present owner.

Riot was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on June 15, 1979 in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Riot was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in September1979 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett.

Horticultural examination of selected units initiated March 1980 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Riot are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Riot has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, and day length. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown inSalinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Riot which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form;

(2) Decorative capitulum type;

(3) Red bronze ray floret color;

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 60 to 75 mm. atmaturity;

(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(6) Medium peduncle length, ranging from 10 to 12 mm.

(7) Medium plant height, requiring 7 to 14 long days prior to short daysto attain a flowered plant height of 75 to 90 cm. for May throughOctober flowerings, and

(8) Low temperature tolerance of 13° C. (55° F.) for initiation anddevelopment when grown in single stem cut spray programs with acontinuous dark period of 13 to 14 hours.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Riot, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photographof Riot grown as a single stem cut spray. Sheet 2 is a black and whitephotograph of three views of the inflorescence of Riot. Sheet 3 is ablack and white photograph showing the leaves of Riot at three stages ofdevelopment (mature, intermediate, immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Riot are Flame Blair, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 3,353, and Dark Red Beauregard, an unpatented cultivar.Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Flame Belair and Dark Red Beauregard.

Riot has deeper red tonal color than Flame Belair or Dark RedBeauregard. Riot has shorter peduncles than Flame Belair. Riot and FlameBelair are similar in capitulum diameter, with both being larger thanDark Red Beauregard. Both Riot and Flame Belair respond one week earlierthan Dark Red Beauregard. Riot has a much superior tolerance of 13° C.for initiation and development of buds than either Flame Blair or DarkRed Beauregard.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 1:45 P.M. and 2:15 P.M. on Aug. 10, 1982 under 150 foot-candlelight intensity at Salinas, Calif.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Riot

Commercial: Spray decorative cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--60 To 75 mm.

Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Red bronze.

Color (abaxial).--179A.

Color (adaxial).--162B.

Shape.--Narrow. Oblong with pointed tip.

Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14B.

Color (immature).--1C.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; very few; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 75 to 90 cm. as a flowering plant from a rootedcutting, with 7 long days for May through October flowerings andmaintaining a minimum nightly 13 to 14 hour continuous dark period.

FOLIAGE:

Color (abaxial).--147A.

Color (adaxial).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and coarsely serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF RIOT AND FLAME BELAIR                                           AND DARK RED BEAUREGARD                                                       ______________________________________                                                 RAY        CAPITULUM                                                          FLORET     FORM AND     SPRAY                                        CULTIVAR COLOR      TYPE         FORMATION                                    ______________________________________                                        RIOT     RED        FLAT         TERMINAL                                              BRONZE     DECORATIVE   10 to 12 cm.                                                                  PEDUNCLES                                    FLAME    ORANGE     FLAT         TERMINAL                                     BELAIR   BRONZE     DECORATIVE   12 to 15 cm.                                 #3,353                           PEDUNCLES                                    DARK RED DARK       FLAT         TERMINAL                                     BEAU-    BRONZE     DECORATIVE   10 to 12 cm.                                 REGARD                           PEDUNCLES                                    ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER                FLOWERING                                             ACROSS FACE   PLANT     RESPONSE                                     CULTIVAR OF CAPITULUM  HEIGHT    PERIOD                                       ______________________________________                                        RIOT     60 to 75 mm.  MEDIUM    9 WEEKS                                                             75 to                                                                         90 cm.                                                 FLAME    60 to 75 mm.  TALL      9 WEEKS                                      BELAIR                 80 to                                                  #3,353                 100 cm.                                                DARK RED 50 to 60 mm.  MEDIUM    10 WEEKS                                     BEAU-                  75 to                                                  REGARD                 90 cm.                                                 ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           SINGLE STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS WITH                                               7 LONG DAYS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                        

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct plant of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., named Riot, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatcapitulum form; decorative capitulum type; red bronze ray floret color;diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 60 to 75 mm. at maturity;uniform nine week flowering response; medium plant height when grownsingle stem; 10 to 12 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays,and 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and developmentof flowering buds.